Drouin named CHL player of the year

A day in advance of competing in the Memorial Cup final, 2013 NHL Draft eligible forward Jonathan Drouin had reason to celebrate.

The 18-year-old Halifax Mooseheads standout was named the Canadian Hockey League’s CCM Player of the Year on Saturday, the first first-time draft eligible player to capture the award since Sidney Crosby in 2005.

Drouin amassed 41 goals and 105 points in 49 regular season games before scoring 12 goals and adding 23 assists in the Mooseheads’ march to a QMJHL title. He was named both the league’s regular season and playoff MVP.

The Ste-Agathe, QC product edged out Vincent Trocheck of the Plymouth Whalers, and Adam Lowry of the Swift Current Broncos for the award.

Drouin is slotted third overall in Future Considerations’ final ranking for the 2013 NHL Draft behind Seth Jones and teammate Nathan MacKinnon.